Civil Police Lawyer - Hybrid Working

The Legal Services Directorate of Avon and Somerset Constabulary is offering an exciting opportunity for a lawyer who has a real interest in pursuing a career in an in-house police legal team. The team provides legal advice on a broad range of legal issues to the whole organisation including employment matters, civil litigation, civil injunctions and inquests. Applications are invited from all legal backgrounds as experience of policing, whilst advantageous, is not required.

We are looking for an individual who can offer an outstanding service and has a particular interest in civil litigation. You must show enthusiasm and aptitude for this area of work. You will manage and organise a caseload of pre litigated and litigated civil work under the supervision of the Senior Lawyer. Claims will involve Employers Liability, Public Liability and RTCs, unlawful arrest and false imprisonment. Experience in dealing with Inquests and Judicial Review is desirable but not essential.

We are a team which favours a strong skillset and enthusiasm over experience and you will be provided with the appropriate support to enable you to expand your existing knowledge, skills and experience. If you are eager to take the next step in your career and work in an inclusive environment, in a developing area of law where no one day is the same, we would welcome your application.

In this role, your main responsibilities are likely to include:

Investigating and case-managing pre-action and litigated civil claims.
Providing legal advice and guidance on relevant civil matters identifying legal and reputational risk.
Representing the client at Court hearings, Tribunals and within mediation and settlement meetings.
Assisting the Senior Lawyers and Senior Leadership Team in the provision of legal advice and guidance.

Skills, Experience and Qualifications required:

You will need to be a qualified solicitor, Barrister or FCILEx / CILEx Lawyer with rights of audience in England and Wales or demonstrable experience of working in police law with rights of audience granted by the court and be actively studying to qualify as a Lawyer and have completed at least 12 months of a Training Contract or Qualifying Work Experience.
Experience in at least one or more of the following areas: Civil Litigation, Employment, Human Rights, Police Operational Law, Judicial Review and Police Misconduct.
Advocacy experience in at least one of the Magistrates, County Courts, Tribunals or Misconduct proceedings.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Previous experience of handling contentious matters generally.
Ability to manage and organise own workload effectively.
Ability to act under pressure and respond quickly to changing and conflicting demands.
Demonstrate being able to work as part of a team, an eagerness to learn and develop and a broad range of legal skills.
Good computer literacy skills including experience of common Microsoft packages.
Excellent legal research and analytical skills.

Employee Rewards and Benefits:

Our employee rewards reflect our culture and go beyond just salary. We offer a comprehensive package of financial, lifestyle, and health benefits to support you at every stage of life and in the moments that matter. Our rewards include a pension scheme for financial security, occupational health services and an employee assistance program for health and wellbeing, and lifestyle perks such as gym memberships, online retail discounts, and savings on dining out.

Additional Information:

Following the shortlisting process in person interviews are scheduled to take place week commencing 11th August 2025 at Police Headquarters, Portishead.

To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a 5 year ‘checkable history’ in the UK – ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity and believe you have the skills and experience we’re looking for, we’d love to hear from you. Click the 'Apply' button below to submit your application.